Echinacea - Herbal Medicine with a Wild History

This book provides an in-depth analysis of one the of most popular medicinal plants-Echinacea a species that is native to only the US and Canada. There are nine Echinacea species and several roots and above-ground portions of these showy wildflowers have been used in herbal medicine as an immune stimulant and to reduce one's chances of catching a cold. Considerable medical research supports these claims. The most popular species and the primary one wild-harvested is the one native to the Great Plains, Echinacea angustifolia. It has a long history of use, including being both historically and currently the most widely-used medicinal plant by any of the Great Plains Native Americans. The importance of this species is described by the editor with a few key contributors chosen to relate the important facets of the story of this interesting plant: Echinacea's biology, ecology, medicinal uses, markets, production and harvest, along with population biology, legalprotections, ethnobotany, and history. The US Forest Service has expressed concern about the conservation status of Echinacea species on their lands, especially on the National Grasslands and National Forest units in the northern Great Plains. Overall, the future status of Echinacea, as an important medicinal plant and in the wild is not grim, but this book provides a clear perspective of why both cultivated and wild-harvested Echinacea will continue to be available to consumers without threatening the remaining populations.

List of contents

Introduction.- Uses of Echinacea angustifolia and other Echinacea species by Native Americans of the Great Plains.- Cultivation of Echinacea angustifolia and Echinacea purpurea.- Naming and Classification of Echinacea Species.- Biology and Ecology of Echinacea.- A species-by-species overview.- One Hundred Years of Echinacea Angustifolia in the Smoky Hills of Kansas.- Threats to Wild Echinacea Populations.- Research on Echinacea Species Use in Western Medicine.- The Echinacea Market.- Legal Protection of Echinacea and Other Medicinal Plant Species.- Recommendations Regarding the Conservation Status of Echinacea.- Appendix A: A Science in Action: A Model for Monitering Echinacea Populations.- Vignettes.- Index.

About the author

Kelly Kindscher, PhD, is a senior scientist at the Kansas Biological Survey and a Professor in the Environmental Studies Program at the University of Kansas. His research specialties are plant community ecology, conservation biology, restoration ecology, botany, and ethnobotany. He is known as a passionate speaker for the wild—wild prairies, wild plants, and wild landscapes.

Summary

This book provides an in-depth analysis of one the of most popular medicinal plants—Echinacea a species that is native to only the US and Canada. There are nine Echinacea species and several roots and above-ground portions of these showy wildflowers have been used in herbal medicine as an immune stimulant and to reduce one’s chances of catching a cold. Considerable medical research supports these claims. The most popular species and the primary one wild-harvested is the one native to the Great Plains, Echinacea angustifolia. It has a long history of use, including being both historically and currently the most widely-used medicinal plant by any of the Great Plains Native Americans. The importance of this species is described by the editor with a few key contributors chosen to relate the important facets of the story of this interesting plant: Echinacea’s biology, ecology, medicinal uses, markets, production and harvest, along with population biology, legalprotections, ethnobotany, and history. The US Forest Service has expressed concern about the conservation status of Echinacea species on their lands, especially on the National Grasslands and National Forest units in the northern Great Plains. Overall, the future status of Echinacea, as an important medicinal plant and in the wild is not grim, but this book provides a clear perspective of why both cultivated and wild-harvested Echinacea will continue to be available to consumers without threatening the remaining populations.

Additional text

“This is a scientific book that offers a comprehensive yet readable survey of several scientific and practical aspects of the genus Echinacea … . As a unique feature, many of the topics are based on the authors’ own research, fieldwork experiences, etc. … This is a volume that bridges the past and future of Echinacea species, a dependable source of information that surely deserves a place in scientific libraries.” (Ákos Máthé, Economic Botany, Vol. 71 (1), 2017)

Report

"This is a scientific book that offers a comprehensive yet readable survey of several scientific and practical aspects of the genus Echinacea ... . As a unique feature, many of the topics are based on the authors' own research, fieldwork experiences, etc. ... This is a volume that bridges the past and future of Echinacea species, a dependable source of information that surely deserves a place in scientific libraries." (Ákos Máthé, Economic Botany, Vol. 71 (1), 2017)

Product details

• Assisted by: Kell Kindscher (Editor), Kelly Kindscher (Editor)
• Publisher: Springer, Berlin
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 01.01.2018
• EAN: 9783319792460
• ISBN: 978-3-31-979246-0
• No. of pages: 238
• Dimensions: 155 mm x 14 mm x 235 mm
• Weight: 400 g
• Illustrations: XIX, 238 p. 16 illus.
• Subjects: Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > Biology > Botany; B, Plant Ecology, Plant Physiology, Biomedical and Life Sciences, Botany & plant sciences, Plant anatomy, Plant Development, Plant Anatomy/Development, Developmental biology